Excelsior Springs, Mo. – As affordable housing shortages and homelessness continue to affect both rural and urban communities throughout Missouri, advocates are ramping up pressure on lawmakers to reduce barriers in federal policy that hinder local housing efforts. The Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (MO NAHRO) has launched a broad advocacy campaign aimed at highlighting practical, actionable changes that could help thousands of vulnerable Missourians secure and maintain housing.

The campaign's focus isn’t about adding bureaucracy—it’s about reducing it. “MO NAHRO is encouraging state and federal lawmakers to consider a range of policy adjustments—aimed not at adding complexity, but at removing barriers that housing providers face every day.”

The group represents housing authorities and community development professionals across Missouri who oversee programs such as public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers (HCVs). These programs serve a wide spectrum of residents, from seniors and individuals with disabilities to families struggling to make ends meet.

Elevating Rural Voices in the Policy Conversation

While much of the national focus on housing tends to center on large metropolitan areas, MO NAHRO is ensuring that smaller communities like Excelsior Springs are part of the conversation. Carrie Hiltner, Executive Director of the Excelsior Springs Housing Authority and Senior Vice-President of MO NAHRO, is one of the key leaders advocating for more responsive housing policies. Her work underscores the importance of including rural and small-town perspectives in debates often dominated by urban policy concerns.

Her involvement brings attention to how federal housing programs impact communities that lack the infrastructure and funding that major cities often take for granted. Hiltner’s leadership is helping to spotlight how modest reforms could make a big difference for small agencies managing tight budgets and growing needs.

The Scope of Housing Needs in Missouri

Missouri’s affordable housing crisis is not theoretical—it’s quantifiable and urgent. According to NAHRO data, more than 37,000 families in Missouri rely on Housing Choice Vouchers, while another 14,000 families live in public housing. These households often include the state’s most vulnerable residents: seniors, people with disabilities, and children.

Additionally, more than 7,300 people in Missouri are currently experiencing homelessness—a number that advocates fear could grow without expanded funding and regulatory relief.

Strengthening Existing Housing Programs

A central goal of MO NAHRO’s campaign is to expand and preserve tools that have already proven effective. Chief among these is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC), which supports more than 73,000 affordable housing units across Missouri. By increasing the availability and scope of LIHTC credits, advocates believe they can help drive the development of more affordable units—not just in Kansas City and St. Louis, but across the state’s rural and mid-sized communities.

Calls for Practical Policy Fixes

To ensure housing authorities can continue supporting families, MO NAHRO is asking lawmakers to consider three specific changes:

• Increase federal funding to allow agencies to maintain and expand services while reducing waitlists.
• Re-evaluate administrative burdens created by some HUD rules that make it difficult for agencies to operate efficiently.
• Update outdated funding formulas so they reflect current local conditions and enable more flexibility for community-specific solutions.

These are not radical overhauls, advocates stress, but rather “straightforward changes” designed to allow agencies to better serve the people who depend on them.

Reforming the Davis-Bacon Act Threshold

A particularly burdensome regulation that housing authorities are calling out is the Davis-Bacon Act—a law originally passed in 1931 that requires federally funded construction projects over $2,000 to pay workers the prevailing local wage.

While the law was intended to protect worker pay, housing leaders argue the dollar threshold has not kept pace with inflation. As a result, even small repair jobs can trigger extensive paperwork, compliance checks, and audit requirements.

“While the intent is to protect workers and local wage standards, housing authorities point out that the $2,000 threshold hasn’t been updated in nearly a century. That means even minor repair jobs can trigger wage compliance paperwork, payroll audits, and other administrative tasks that are disproportionately burdensome, especially for small agencies.”

Rather than eliminating the Davis-Bacon protections, MO NAHRO is urging Congress to raise the threshold to $250,000, which would modernize the law and reduce overhead for smaller agencies. “This change would allow agencies to spend more money on housing and less on bureaucracy.”

Looming Federal Budget Cuts Threaten Programs

Advocates are especially concerned about what lies ahead in the FY25 federal budget. In 2023, Missouri received $269 million in Housing Choice Voucher funding. However, proposed House and Senate budgets include cuts that could significantly reduce access to rental assistance.

“NAHRO estimates that under the House version, 4,777 Missouri families could lose access to rental assistance, with another 1,069 impacted by the Senate proposal.” These figures represent real people—children, seniors, and low-income workers—who could face housing instability if funding is slashed.

Taking Action: How Residents Can Help

MO NAHRO is encouraging Missourians to get involved by contacting their elected officials. Advocates hope that by making local voices heard in Washington, policymakers will see the real-world effects of their decisions on communities of every size.

“If you believe affordable housing should remain a priority, consider reaching out to your congressional representatives.”

For Excelsior Springs residents and those across Missouri, the message is clear: practical reforms are needed now to protect and expand affordable housing access. Without them, communities risk losing the critical supports that help families stay housed and stable.

Originally reported by S Jason Cole in Excelsior Citizen.